944 F.

2d 901

NOTICE: Fourth Circuit I.O.P. 36.6 states that citation of

unpublished dispositions is disfavored except for establishing
res judicata, estoppel, or the law of the case and requires
service of copies of cited unpublished dispositions of the Fourth
Circuit.
Shirley HEMPHILL, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
Alex BEASLEY, Sheriff, Transylvania County, Brevard, North
Carolina, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 90-6928.

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Submitted Jan. 28, 1991.
Decided Sept. 30, 1991.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
North Carolina, at Raleigh. Terrence W. Boyle, District Judge. (CA-90634-CRT)
Shirley Hemphill, appellant pro se.
E.D.N.C.
AFFIRMED.
Before WILKINSON and WILKINS, Circuit Judges, and BUTZNER,
Senior Circuit Judge.
OPINION
PER CURIAM:

Shirley Hemphill, an inmate in North Carolina, filed a complaint under 42

U.S.C. 1983, alleging that the Transylvania County sheriff went into her
house without a warrant, broke into her bedroom, and took over $10,000

without giving a receipt. The district court dismissed the complaint pursuant to
28 U.S.C. 1915(d) concluding that it was frivolous. Hemphill, without
appealing the first dismissal, filed this action raising essentially the same claim.
The district court dismissed the second complaint, again as frivolous, with
reference to its holding in the first case. Hemphill now appeals the dismissal of
her second complaint. For the reasons set forth below, we affirm the decision of
the district court.
2

The test for determining whether a complaint is frivolous within the meaning of
28 U.S.C. 1915(d) is whether "it lacks an arguable basis either in law or in
fact." Neitzke v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319 (1989). The facts alleged by
Hemphill--a warrantless entry into her house and the confiscation of her
property--could, if proved, state a valid fourth amendment claim. Thus, the
claim does not lack an arguable basis in law or in fact. The absence of proof
does not militate in favor of dismissal with prejudice before allowing the pro se
plaintiff an opportunity to supplement her complaint. Id.

Although the district court erred when it dismissed the claim as frivolous, we
affirm the dismissal based on the principle of res judicata. The plaintiff, having
previously filed the same cause of action against the same defendant with an
adjudication on the merits, is barred from relitigating the claim. See Brooks v.
The Arlington Hosp. Assoc., 850 F.2d 191, 195 (4th Cir.1988).

Although a decision to dismiss with or without prejudice under 1915(d) is

within the discretion of the district court, see White v. White, 886 F.2d 721,
723 (4th Cir.1989), the district court did not indicate whether it intended its
decision in the first action to act as one on the merits. We find, however, that it
was, because "[u]nless the court in its order for dismissal otherwise specifies, a
dismissal under this subdivision [involuntary dismissal] ... other than a
dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, for improper venue, or for failure to join a
party under Rule 19, operates as an adjudication upon the merits." Fed.R.Civ.P.
41(b). Cf. Hall v. Tower Land & Inv. Co., 512 F.2d 481 (5th Cir.1975) (where
district court failed to specify, dismissal pursuant to Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(6) was
with prejudice); Rinehart v. Locke, 454 F.2d 313 (7th Cir.1971) (same).
Therefore, the first dismissal should be given res judicata effect.

Since Hemphill was barred from bringing her second claim, this appeal is
without merit. The decision of the district court is affirmed. We dispense with
oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented
in the materials before the Court and argument would not aid the decisional
process.

AFFIRMED.